My classes today were cancelled for a Halloween party tonight. The school has invited all its students to join in some kind of snack-fest from 6-8pm. I don’t know any more than that, but I guess I’ll find out soon enough. It’s been a relaxing day so far as a result of the altered schedule. I went to lunch with a Chinese friend of mine, then returned home and studied for a little bit.

I’m definitely doing a long-distance trip this week. It’s been too long since the last one. I don’t mind not travelling as long as I’m seeing or doing or eating something new each week. Anyways, “not travelling” is a bit ridiculous to say while I’m in Zhengzhou.

I’m joining a soccer team next Sunday morning. A guy originally from Montreal whom I had my second dinner with last night (keep reading) told me about a team in the city that’s looking for players. I’m excited about that. I’ve got to buy soccer shoes this week.

Yes, so last night I went to two restaurants. The first one was with Glen, a man I met while travelling back to Zhengzhou a few weeks back. We had Korean BBQ and chilled noodles. The most exciting part of this meal was that the conversation was entirely in Chinese; he can’t speak English. So I was pretty proud of myself for having pulled off an entire dinner discussion in my second language.

Near the end of that meal, Jacinthe messaged me, asking me to meet her for dinner with some other people at a minority restaurant. So I wrapped up the meal with Glen, and took a taxi across town to my second meal. At that meal were Jacinthe, her Chinese roommate Jessica, an American, a couple from Montreal, and a Chinese man named Sean who places foreigners in schools around Zhengzhou. This meal was lavish, but sadly I couldn’t keep up with everyone else, having already stuffed myself once that evening. I did my best to eat the sugared yams, veggies, fish, spicy egg, hawthorn soup etc., etc., nonetheless.

My fortunate situation didn’t pass me unnoticed last night. It really is remarkable….I eat out almost every meal of my existence here. And last night I went to two upper-class restaurants in a row, without evening considering the monetary cost. I try not to let it get to my head.

After the meal, Jacinthe, Jessica, and I went to a pub called Target, then to another called CDs. Both were hopping to Halloween themes. At CDs I ran into my Australian friend James, who I see at the bar every time I go. This time we made plans to play Mortal Kombat on PS2 together sometime soon, because there was a guy dressed up like Rayden at the bar last night. For those of you who don’t know who that is, look it up.

At about 1:30 I returned home, helping Martha (girl who works with me) back at the same time.

Well, time to go to "work"!

Chris